ROGER MONROE
One of the C-130 hangars at the 182nd Air Lift Wing base in Peoria was packed Saturday, June 6, with people, not aircraft, though one of the giant planes hovered over the large crowd. The humans were there to thank and honor Dan McDonough for his nearly 40 years of military service. I was fortunate to be invited to attend the retirement ceremony headlined by Major General Rodney Boyd, Adjutant General of the State of Illinois.
Starting in 1987 as a Second Lieutenant undergraduate in pilot training at Laughlin Air Force Base in Texas, McDonough rose to the position of Assistant Adjutant General for the Illinois Air Guard after leaving as commander of the 182nd Wing. In between, the Peorian flew more than 5,600 hours, including over 700 combat hours. He was deployed as C-130 aircraft commander five times in support of Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom and four times commanding the 774th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron at Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan. McDonough has flown the OA-37 Dragonfly, the F-16 fighter jet, C-120E and C-130-Hercules.
He’s a graduate of Indiana State and the Academy of Military Science and has received seven major awards and decorations during his career, including the Air Force Combat Action Medal and the Army Achievement Medal.
Gen. Dan McDonough
As Assistant Adjutant General for the Illinois Air Guard, McDonough was responsible for the command, control and operations of programs involving close to 3,000 service members at Scott Air Force Base and bases in Peoria and Springfield.
It came as no surprise he received a standing ovation when he was introduced. His retirement remarks were appreciative, thankful, emotional, and humorous. He thanked his wife, Cindy, daughter Kelly and son Danny, who’s a Second Lieutenant. His children surprised him with some wonderful personal remarks of affection.
All in all it was a moving ceremony during our nation’s 250th anniversary in tribute of General McDonough’s outstanding record of service to the country. Present for the historic event were former 182nd Air Lift Wing commander, retired General William Robertson and General Frank Rezac commander of the Illinois Air National Guard. Not able to attend was current 182nd commander, Col. Rusty Ballard, who was on assignment in Arkansas, training for the new C-130’s to be delivered to the Peoria base in the near future.
CELEBRATING AMERICA AND ITS FOUNDERS: The people of Peoria and the country are excited as we approach the Fourth of July and have been since the year started. The numerous programs held Memorial Day were well-attended, especially the ceremony held on the riverfront with the Peoria Municipal Band and featured speaker, John Morris of the Peoria Riverfront Museum. For the second year, I had the privilege of presiding, and the Lord willing, will be there again next year.
Once gain this year under the leadership of WMBD and its sister stations, we’ll have another spectacular fireworks show on the riverfront. The Red, White, and Boom event draws thousands to the celebration. The spectacular event will be even larger as we honor the Founding Fathers of the United States of America. While some find it encouraging to point to the flaws of our great leaders, the vast majority remember they crafted the greatest written instrument of governance in the world: The Declaration of Independence, penned by Thomas Jefferson, was adopted July 4, 1776.
For 250 years we’ve celebrated the Fourth of July, and with today’s leaders the annual event is, and will be, greater than ever. Schools and streets across America carry the names of such presidents as Washington, Hamilton, Madison, Monroe, Adams, Jefferson, Harrison, Lincoln, Roosevelt, Grant, Franklin, Coolidge, Wilson, McKinley, Garfield, Hayes, Johnson, Polk, Taft, Van Buren, and Jackson. Despite movements to remove some of those names, they’re still in our history books, on our street signs, and buildings. We remember them with pride and thanksgiving.
I served with the U.S. Army, spending close to two years in Germany. The American flag flies every day at my house, as it does at the homes of two neighbors. Both are veterans, too. I’ve often wondered, why does one have to serve in the military to be inspired to fly the flag?
Since November, 2002, I’ve been doing a three-hour morning radio show that started with fellow American patriot, comedian Royce Elliott. Our program has featured veterans in tribute and appreciation for their service. Thursday morning co-host Mike Dentino is a Navy veteran. We speak regularly with Air Force veterans Dick Crain and Bob Reed, Navy Seal Ben Wallach, Army vet Nick Boyle, Col. Rusty Ballard of the local air base and many others.
This year, we celebrate July 4 on a Saturday. Too bad the City of Peoria along with multiple agencies and organizations from the Air Guard to the Army Guard to the school district, to the American Legion, to the County Courthouse, didn’t plan for a big parade on Saturday followed by Red, White and Boom. What a day it could’ve been. While they didn’t, we will. Friday, July 3, on “Breakfast with Roger and Friends,” we’ll celebrate with music and special guests on WAZU-FM 90.7 and on Roger and FriendsLS on YouTube worldwide.
God bless America!
QUOTE OF THE MONTH: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator, with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness,” — Declaration of Independence